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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

Yuga-Dharma Framework, Kali-Yuga Diagnosis, and the Hari-Nāma Remedy

Transition to Vedānta Inquiry

व्याजधर्मरताः सर्वे असूयानिरतास्तथा । वृथाहंकारदुष्टाश्च सत्यहीनाश्च पंडिताः ॥ ३१ ॥

vyājadharmaratāḥ sarve asūyāniratāstathā | vṛthāhaṃkāraduṣṭāśca satyahīnāśca paṃḍitāḥ || 31 ||

人々は皆、偽りの法(ダルマ)に執着し、他者の過失をあげつらうことに没頭する。空しい我慢により心は汚れ、「学者」と呼ばれても真実と誠実を欠く。

व्याज-धर्म-रताःdevoted to hypocritical/pretended धर्म
व्याज-धर्म-रताः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeAdjective
Rootव्याज (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (कृदन्त; √रम् धातु)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण: रत (क्त) ‘attached/devoted’; समास: व्याजधर्मे रताः
सर्वेall
सर्वे:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण
असूया-निरताःengaged in envy
असूया-निरताः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeAdjective
Rootअसूया (प्रातिपदिक) + निरत (कृदन्त; √रम् धातु)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण: निरत (क्त) ‘engaged’; समास: असूयायां निरताः
तथाlikewise
तथा:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)
वृथा-अहंकार-दुष्टाःcorrupted by vain ego
वृथा-अहंकार-दुष्टाः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeAdjective
Rootवृथा (अव्यय) + अहंकार (प्रातिपदिक) + दुष्ट (कृदन्त; √दुष् धातु)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण: दुष्ट (क्त) ‘corrupted’; समास: वृथा-अहंकारेण दुष्टाः (instrumental sense)
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)
सत्य-हीनाःdevoid of truth
सत्य-हीनाः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeAdjective
Rootसत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (कृदन्त; √हा धातु)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण: हीन (क्त) ‘devoid’; समास: सत्येन हीनाः
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)
पण्डिताः(so-called) learned people
पण्डिताः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootपण्डित (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Narada

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

It identifies key signs of spiritual decline: outward religious display (vyāja-dharma), envy and criticism (asūyā), ego-driven conduct, and the loss of satya—showing that inner integrity, not mere reputation as “learned,” defines genuine dharma.

By condemning hypocrisy, envy, and ego, the verse indirectly supports bhakti’s inner orientation—humility, sincerity, and truthfulness—without which devotional practice becomes mere performance rather than heartfelt surrender.

No specific Vedanga (like Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline—especially satya and restraint from asūyā—as prerequisites for any scriptural learning to bear fruit.